First part of a series
Just this week, I was casually browsing the various social network sites when I came across a Facebook posting that almost made me fall off from my seat. I was astounded when I saw an FB post on May 6, 2021 of the Professional Regulation Commission announcing that the new passers of the Licensure Examination for Certified Public Accountants (CPA) that the “conduct of online oathtaking will be on May 17, 2021, Monday, 10:00 a.m., which will be spearheaded by PRC Tuguegarao through Zoom.”
A question immediately came to mind. Has the PRC resumed the holding of the CPA examinations? There have not been any examinations for CPAs since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the examinations scheduled for May 2020, October 2020, and the most recent, May 2021, being postponed to October 2021. I have not heard of any CPA examinations being held in a “bubble” environment, similar to what has been done for the recently concluded Philippine Basketball Association games. So, I am quite sure that this posting is a “fake” or erroneous news or posting. I am awaiting the response of a PRC Commissioner whom I’ve e-mailed to clarify this posting.
This incident puts into focus a number of human interest concerns. I can just imagine the anxiety of tens of thousands of graduates of their accountancy programs the last two years who are in a state of limbo as their immediate future is somewhat uncertain. These thoughts are surely fleeting in their minds. When will I be able to take the examinations? How long still do I need to prepare for the examinations and proceed or continue my review online classes? Do I attempt to apply for work even though I am not yet a CPA? With Covid-19 and the long lapse of time since I graduated from college, am I mentally ready to take the examinations? If and when I take my examinations, will I pass these?
Annually, about 25,000 examinees take the three CPA examinations that PRC and the Board of Accountancy administer (including the examination that is held in the Middle East). Since there has not been any examinations for practically the past two years, it is highly possible that about 50,000 examinees may take the licensure tests when these are held in October 2021. That is about 3.5 times the regular number of testers who take the CPA exams. Will the BOA be able to handle this chore considering the magnitude of the people involved (both the examinees and proctors), the logistical requirements that include hundreds of testing centers, and the strict requirements for mass gathering of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid?
Definitely, a lot of things to think about. And to come up with much needed action.
Joel L. Tan-Torres is the Dean of the University of the Philippines Virata School of Business. Previously, he was the Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the chairman of the Professional Regulatory Board of Accountancy and partner of Reyes Tacandong & Co. and the SyCip Gorres and Velayo & Co. He is a Certified Public Accountant who garnered No. 1 in the CPA Board Examination of May 1979.
This column accepts articles for publication from the business and academic community. Articles not exceeding 600 words can be e-mailed to jltantorres@up.edu.ph.